Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine is Safe, Effective

A U.S. review found nasal spray flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent flu in healthy, non-pregnant adults and children age 2 and older.

Influenza is a viral infection that affects millions of people each year and potentially can cause serious complications, especially in children and older adults. However, the nasal spray form of the flu vaccine, known as Flu Mist, has not gained widespread acceptance, said Mayo Clinic researchers in Rochester, Minn.

First author Dr. Pritish Tosh said that live attenuated influenza vaccine is a safe, highly immunogenic and effective vaccine that is well tolerated. Only mild and transient upper respiratory infection symptoms occur with the nasal spray form of the flu vaccine versus placebo, even in higher-risk patients with asthma or the early stages of human immunodeficiency virus.

The review, published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that in the age groups for which it is indicated, Flu Mist is a safe and effective vaccine to prevent influenza infection.